Saturday, September 22. 2007

Just when you thought the world couldn't get any weirder, a homophobic, anti-Marriage Equality, conservative, Republican senator might just make it safe for queers to cruise in public bathrooms, parks, rest stops, truck stops, saunas, gyms, and locker rooms!

When the whole Larry Craig thing started going down, I was (as you've all probably guessed or read) pretty cranky about the whole thing. And by cranky, I mean royally, er...senatorially pissed! Pissed at Craig, at the police, at our sex-panicking society, and at other queers for actively participating in the latest faggot freakshow simply because it would get an anti-gay senator out of the Senate.

Two weeks ago, the only silver lining I could find on this cloud was that the word "toe-tapper" was ironically reclaimed in about the same short time that it had become a slur. I, for one, get tired of spitting out bitch, cocksucker, fudgepacker, cum slut, and fag -- thank god for the addition of toe-tapper to my repetoire!

And then came the ACLU.

I'm sure you know what I'm talking about, but in case you need a refresher here's a great article by Frank Rich from today's New York Times:

The police throughout the US (including - especially? - New York City) are notorious for targeting queers in public areas and even gay bars in a homophobic attempt to stop cruising. Often the officer will pose as another queer soliciting sex and the minute any flirtation or suggestion of sexual interest is made, the officer will arrest the cruiser. The problem? Not only is such a sting clearly entrapment, but unless an actual "sting" occurs (e.g. penetration, etc.) this isn't actually a crime. In other words, the cop would have to be at the cruising grounds not pretending to be anything other than a cop, and if he or she were approached, the cop would actually have to be grabbed or penetrated for a crime to actually occur.

While this is probably quite an exciting scenario to some, the fact is that most of these sting operations simply involve the same acts Craig participated in: toe tapping, hand waving, and standing suggestively. The ACLU case not only states that Craig did nothing wrong while flirting (no matter how suggestive), but they classify this type of flirting as constitutionally protected free speech. That's right, a wink, a wave, a tap of the toe - none of these things are lewd enough to be criminal, and are in fact within your protected rights.

So, in homage to Senator Craig and his plight, I think it is every queer's god-given DUTY to go into a public place and try to pick someone up. Not just anyone. A COP. Go to a park, restroom, subway platform, or city street and wink at a cop, smile their way, blow them kisses. If they try to put you away? Tell them you'll call the ACLU for this violation of free speech.

Oh, and if you think about it, send a note to Senator Craig and thank him for making public areas a protected space for public, queer, guy on guy, girl on girl flirtation. After all, he should know that some good is coming from his misfortune. You can e-mail Senator Craig by clicking here.

I've read a few pieces recently addressing this issue and positing that one could argue that the toe tapping ritual is actually a type of flirting not unlike the various ways heterosexuals as depicted in the excerpt below:

"tossed her hair, swayed her hips, arched her feet, giggled, gazed wide-eyed, flicked her tongue over her lips and extended that apocalyptic chest, and that Dick, for his part, arched his back, stretched his pecs, imperceptibly swayed his pelvis in a tame Elvis performance, swaggered, laughed loudly, tugged his tie and clasped the back of his neck, which had the thoroughly engaging effect of stiffening his stance and puffing his chest." (http://psychologytoday.com/articles/index.php?term=pto-575.html&fromMod=popular_sex)

These rituals or gestures are understood and accepted in the heterosexual world, either consciously or unconsciously, has harmless flirting by most of society.

However, in gay community that for all intense and purposes has only been recently "out" many of our rituals and those practicing them are still very discrete for various reasons including personal safety.

Wouldn't it be great if a couple of queers could feel free enough to arch their feet and stick their butts out or lick their lips our brush their flowing locks aside or look up as they point their chin downward without fear?

There was a good piece written over at MyLeftWing.com with some interesting comments on this very issue at, http://www.myleftwing.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=18566.

E-Mail addresses will not be displayed and will only be used for E-Mail notifications.

To prevent automated Bots from commentspamming, please enter the string you see in the image below in the appropriate input box. Your comment will only be submitted if the strings match. Please ensure that your browser supports and accepts cookies, or your comment cannot be verified correctly.Enter the string from the spam-prevention image above: